HC Deb 12 March 2002 vol 381 cc924-5W
Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he plans to respond to the London Development Agency/London Underground report on the options for increasing capacity at Wembley Park underground station. [43231]

Mr. Byers

I welcome this report, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. It demonstrates that it should be possible to make real improvements to capacity and access—particularly for disabled people—without the need to rebuild Wembley Park Station.

While the report's proposals are significantly less expensive than rebuilding the station, they cannot be accommodated within the £20 million which the Government have already agreed to make available for infrastructure improvements. In the light of this new evidence, I have now decided that if the stadium development proceeds, I should make available additionally up to £7 million from my transport provision. This would make it easier for people travelling to the new stadium, as well as those living and working in the area. I understand that the Mayor of London has also agreed to make available a similar sum.